AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > May > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAlabama, Florida State crack the TB Top 30
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Four months ago, on the eve of the BCS championship game, I gave you my Ridiculously Early Top 25 for 2008. A lot has changed since then. Now that spring practice is over, I’m going take the next three days to give you The TB Top 30 for the summer of 2008. We’ll start today with 21-30 plus 10 more that didn’t quite make the cut. On Tuesday we’ll have 11-20 with the Top 10 on Wednesday.
Last season’s record plus returning starters are in parentheses.
Is your favorite team going to make it? Stay tuned.
THE TB TOP 30: 21-30
21. Wake Forest (9-4, 6 offense, 9 defense): If the Deacons can find a play maker to replace WR Kenny Moore, they are going to shock some people for the third straight year. Wake Forest has a veteran quarterback in Riley Skinner (72.4 percent completion in 2007) and the nation’s best kicker in Sam Swank.
22. Oregon State (9-4, 9 offense, 3 defense): During spring practice the Beavers found their next star tailback in redshirt freshman Ryan McCants who will step right in to replace Yvenson Bernard. Quarterback Sean Canfield missed spring practice while recovering from a shoulder injury but will compete with Lyle Moevao for the starting job in August. The Beavers led the nation in rushing defense (70.6 ypg) last season but must replace eight starters.
23. Penn State (9-4, 8 offense, 6 defense): The offense will be without quarterback Anthony Morelli but it is expected to be better because of players like freshman speedster Stephfon Green, who had a 57-yard touchdown run in the spring game. The Nittany Lions’ defense will be without linebacker Sean Lee who had knee surgery after suffering an injury on April 11. He will return for the 2009 season. Darryl Clark and Pat Devlin will continue to compete for the quarterback job in August.
24. Oregon (9-4, 5 offense, 8 defense): Justin Roper, who threw four touchdown passes in the Sun Bowl, will still have to compete for the quarterback position over Nate Costa, who sat out the spring recovering from a knee injury. If the Ducks get solid play at QB they will be very good again on offense, despite the loss of RB Jonathan Stewart, because it appears junior college transfer LeGarrette Blount is better than advertised.
25. Fresno State (9-4, 8 offense, 7 defense): The Bulldogs have the talent to become the third straight team from the WAC to reach the BCS. The problem is a non-conference schedule that includes games with Rutgers, Wisconsin, and UCLA. QB Tom Brandstater completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 2,654 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
26. Connecticut (9-4, 9 offense, 8 defense): The Huskies surprised a lot of people when they tied for the Big East championship last season. Now they are out to prove that it was not a fluke with defense that should be even better in 2008. QB Tyler Lorenzen has a very good running tandem in Andre Dixon and Donald Brown, who both ran for over 800 yards last season, but he needs to make more plays in the passing game.
27. Michigan State (7-6, 7 offense, 7 defense): Five of Michigan State’s losses in its first year under coach Mark Dantonio were by a touchdown or less. The Spartans expect to take another step forward in 2008. RB Javon Ringer missed spring practice due to shoulder surgery. Michigan State has to replace both starting defensive ends. If Ringer can stay healthy and QB Brian Hoyer (2,725 yards passing) continues to play well, the Spartans could have another bowl season.
28. Florida State (7-6, 8 offense, 7 defense): If the Seminoles can get some stability on the offensive line then they may surprise some folks. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher will not be afraid to play more than one quarterback in order to spice things up this season. It would have helped the cause if WR Preston Parker had not been arrested on gun charges.
29. Alabama (7-6, 9 offense, 6 defense): Just call this one a hunch. If a couple of the young wide receivers come through, the Crimson Tide just might be pretty good on offense. The line is solid and QB John Parker Wilson should perform well under new OC Jim McElwain. There are just not enough great athletes on defense to play the way coach Nick Saban would like. But help is on the way from a No.1 ranked recruiting class.
30. Cincinnati (10-3, 7 offense, 6 defense): If QB Ben Mauk had gotten another year from the NCAA, the Bearcats would be a contender for the Big East title. Cincinnati will still be able to move the football behind Dustin Grutza or Notre Dame transfer Demetrius Jones.
TEN WHO ALMOST MADE IT
Boston College (11-3): QB Matt Ryan is not the only hole in the Eagles’ lineup.
Boise State (10-3): The Broncos return RB Ian Johnson, but they need a new QB.
East Carolina (8-5): Pirates have to replace first-round draft choice Chris Johnson at RB.
Kentucky (8-5): Wildcats lost too much firepower on offense.
Michigan (9-4): It’s going to be an ugly transition year under Rich Rodriguez.
Miss. State (8-5): Bulldogs still need some offensive firepower.
North Carolina (4-8): Tar Heels return 18 starters under second-year coach Butch Davis.
Rutgers (8-5): Scarlet Knights have to prove they can replace RB Ray Rice.
South Florida (9-4): Bulls return QB Matt Grothe, but defense took a hit.
Virginia (9-4): Losing QB Jameel Sewell will be huge for Cavaliers.
Comments
By GA Dawg
May 5, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
Boring
By JS
May 5, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
Useless list. See you in September.
By Bob
May 5, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
Interesting to me.
If Alabama finishes #29, there will be a lot of discontent in Tuscaloosa.
I have a hard time believing that Michigan won’t be better.
By GW
May 5, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Tony, You should have held off until August. There’s still plenty of time for a school to lose a QB or RB to trouble.
By Paddy
May 5, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
Liked it.. I guess it is because the hated Michigan is droping like a rock.
By Brad
May 5, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
Hey guys, give ol’ Tony a break. We football fans can only get crumbs of info in the summertime, and he does his best to keep us awake ‘til September when we actually have something to talk about. Keep up the good work, my man.
By Tampa Dawg
May 5, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
Thanks for the update TB. I appreciate the insight even in the off season.
By Roswell Ed
May 5, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
It’s never too early for the lists.
Thanks Tony.
WDE!!
By Richard
May 5, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
TB,
You and the rest of the media need to stop wirting articles like this. It’s preseason polls like these that assist in ruining of an otherwise fantastic sport. Stop the trend of writing these for the good of the game. Maybe that way, an undefeated team (Auburn 2003 maybe) can at least be in the discussion for a BCS title.
(What a joke the BCS is)
By Jim
May 5, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
Seems some folks think that if it is written someone has a 400# tackle standing next to you a forcing you to read it!! Relax, it’s entertaining fiction - thanks for the thoughts, Tony!!
By Miles
May 5, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
Wednesday can’t come soon enough…
By War Eagle
May 5, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
Richard, It was 2004 that Auburn went 13-0. Bama sucks and will continue to suck because they play too conservative. There is nothing fun about watching Bama play other than losing over and over again to Auburn. I love it when a school pays millions for a coach who never went undefeated and won a NT by default. Bama had the same record as the year before when they fired Shula. Nice going, morons.
By doggonegadawg
May 5, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
T.B., Regarless of the the relevance or value of such an article, having noticed something to do with college football and I immediately went to it. It is however, laborious wading through the “also rans.” There are many on that initial list who will be offended by their placement which, in turn, will be fodder for argument. That is, after all, what you do for a living, right, Tony? It is unbridled passion year-round. The more the merrier!
By Dick Rod
May 5, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
Missed a few…
Central Michigan, UCF, Washington, Oklahoma State (what, no Big 12 Tony?) just outside the top 30; Iowa, Texas Tech, Cal over Wake, Fresno State, and Cinci in the 21-30 bracket.
By Quincy Carter
May 5, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
awesome! so this means tech is in the top 20!!!!
By Juan Calvillo
May 5, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Slight correction re: Michigan State, all 6 losses were by a TD or less, and 2 came in OT. Dantonio finally got the team where they needed to be for the last 3 games of the season, wins over Purdue & PSU and the loss to BC by 3 after 5 turnovers.
MSU may surprise a few people this year starting with their first game against Cal.
By Bamafan
May 5, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
War Eagle, Any moron that Auburn has a football player can see that Saban is a lot better than Shula was on his best day. Shula did help Bama get thur the probation time and he acted like a gentlemen. But, Shula can not run a program like Bama, Shula will be better running a OVC school or just being a qb coach, Saban is a horse’s butt, but Bama folks were desperate to find a real good coach. Mr War Eagle you hate Bama with a passion and i hate the vols with a passion, but losing to the tigers is taking a toll on me and maybe the tide can pull a rabbit out of the head in November. (From your favorite moron Bama fan) ROLL TIDE!!
By Dean
May 5, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
Wow, Wareagle is awfully upset at Bama even after Auburn has won 5 in a row or somehting like that. It’s May! What’s with the anger?
By sobedawg
May 5, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
None of those teams (21-30) deserve ANY mention…those are the teams that put us ALL to sleep…Dr. SobeDawg
By Reggie Ball
May 5, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
Q,
I can counts to 20! Uh, never mind.
By Dean
May 5, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Nice reply Bamafan! Well, Saban is no Stallings and he darn sure ain’t no Bear but he does know how to win football games. Good luck to Bama this year, just not with they are playing UGA!
By Hoopie1
May 5, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
Fresno St might be in the BCS except for their OOC schedule? Rutgers, Wisconsin and UCLA will be their tuffest games. Even if they are undefeated, that shouldn’t be good enough to play in the BCS (see Hawaii last year). Let them play an SEC schedule and then talk about the BCS.
By Easy Cheesy
May 5, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
Dang, can somebody get Mr. WarEagle some professional help? If he stays on the loose any longer, he’s likely to do something drastic!
By Hoopie1
May 5, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
Bama will be better than #29. $aban got rid of some bad apples and the adversity will bring them together. They still won’t beat Auburn, but should end up at #20-25.
By SECCoachnDallas
May 5, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
But What About The COOTS? They have a great chance to equal last years 6 and 6 record if some of the young players come through!
By Eric1
May 5, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
If UAT manages a 7-6 season I’ll consider it a success. War Eagle!!!
By WarEagle
May 5, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
Bamafan, Shula had the same record and bowl game appearance in his last year as Saban did in his first. You guys are always looking for the next Bear and you’re NOT going to find him. Shula couldn’t run the Bama program because the Bama program can’t get out the Bear Bryant era. You guys are stuck in the past just like Elvis fans in Memphis. Yeah, he was a great coach but get over it. He isn’t coming back. Saban is a hack. Saban beat us one time in his college coaching career and we look forward to beating him for six more years. PS: Stop recruiting players from Hoover.
By WarEagle
May 5, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Easy Cheesy, Help? For what, pointing out how over rated Saban is?
By BigGCock
May 5, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this
SECCoachnDallas , Does UGay have a chance to beat SCar? The have a great chance to beat them since UGay has a Top-5 pre-season ranking.
NOT! Mark my words, SCar will beat UGay. Better D & better Coach…just like last year.
Get over yourselves - when SCar faced UGay in Athens last year, we showed you who the better team was. I don’t want to hear any rebuttals on overall records, bowl games, etc. Bottom line is SCar beat ya’ll down when we were on the same field as UGay. Review the tape if you have any questions.
By DeacinGA
May 5, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
At what point will a good football season from Wake Forest stop surprising people and people just accept the fact that the Deacs are a football school now?
By shane #1
May 5, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
I predict that Syracuse will finish 10-2, winning a trip to the Sugar Bowl to face SEC champ Ol’ Miss. Ol Miss will out last them in an epic defensive battle, winning 6-3.
By Joe Mac
May 5, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
This list served its intended purpose. We skimmed over it and many offered their own thoughts and analysis. Lists like this are just things to give fans to talk about at the water cooler. Good job, Tony.
By Dorsey Hill
May 5, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
Dear ILuvBigGCock,
Interesting to see someone use a moniker reflective of what they love most in life, but I appreciate you coming out the closet, being yourself and letting the world know that you love BigGiantCock.
As for the substance of your post, I don’t think that you will find a person with a brain who would say that Georgia played well last year vs. USC. I think Stafford was 15 of 42 or some such nonsense and had several drops. If we play mediocre instead of terrible we win easily.
I also think that people who aren’t focused on biggiantcock see that scoring 15 points isn’t exactly lighting it up offensively nor is it reflective of an “offensive genuis.” USC got to 6-1 on the strength of their D not SOS. When the D collapsed they lost five in a row and didn’t even make a bowl game.
I will say that since Lou Holtz showed up, USC comes out to play UGA every time and if they gave that sort of effort every week then maybe you’d make it to the Independence Bowl or the Music City Bowl, but that’s what losers do. They show up one week a year, win 3 out of 10 times and then post on blogs while dreaming of biggiantcock. I suppose if you could replace that trophycock in your mind with a SEC championship trophy then perhaps your oral-fixated obsession with gigantic phalluses might subside.
As far as next fall, I never take USC for granted as they do come out and play above their heads against us and saying anything else is just meaningless talk as the players will have their say on 9/13. Luckily for you you can type instead of talking because I don’t think anyone could understand your muffled speech. Also the gagging and slurping would be distracting.
By 39
May 5, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
What’s the point of this? There’s still plenty of time for flunking out, arrests, not qualifying…..gonna be a busy summer
By Bravesfan79
May 5, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
I grew up a bigtime fan of AL football, especially during the Gene Stallings years…and the 92 season! But that being said, first they hire that traitor Nick Saban, then there president comes out saying he loves the BCS and wants no changes.
I cannot support any team whos president is that dumb and selfish.
I hope Alabama has a DREAM season (not gonna happen this year as thell get crushed by UGA) But shurly one year here in the next 3 or 4 seasons AL will be really good, and when they loose 1 or no games and win the SEC championship…i hope they get SCREWED!! I hope that same year Ohio State and USC both go undefeated or have 1 loss each and get “voted” into the title game.
Sadly i guess it will take everyteam getting screwed over for things to change. (since the fans dont have the balls to boycott the joke of a sport) At this rate well have playoffs in about 50 years.
Only then will college football be among the bigtime meaningfull sports. Until then…..College football….all HYPE….little action!!
And seriously, who cares whos rated outside the top 10 anyways…all those poor teams can hope for is to have a great season so that NEXT year they can start out in the top 10 and possibly have a shot at the title game. Everyone else…is fighting for 2nd place at best.
This system really makes it impossible for any team thats not a bigtime program to win a title.
Think about it, a team full of talented seniors goes undefeated only to set themselves up for “next season” well that team isnt USC, or Ohio State so they dont get the best recruits every year, and the next year there back to a .500 team. Just look at Boise State!
Did they not deserve another game after beating Oklohoma??
So the possibility of any team having a “dream season” is really slim to none. As the BCS sucks the LIFE OUT OF THAT DREAM!
By Zeb McKluskey
May 5, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
OK Bravesfan79, you’ve got me confused. In one breath you tell me that you are a fan of college football, then your next breath you’re calling it a “joke of a sport”. I understand your frustration man, but you don’t really think college football is a joke……do you? I mean, hoops and baseball are fine, but you do realize how much money football programs bring to schools…..right?
By yellow is the color of...
May 5, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
I love the ranking, and it is easy to forecast a few possible things TB will have over the next two days. 1. GT will be ranked between 10-20. this will be because their new coach is great. He is so good that no transition time will be needed. 2. Florida will be in the top five. Tebow can almost win the NC by himself. Even if the defense has holes like a colander it is a sure bet that this barely top 25 team in 2007 will be NC material. 3. UGA will be ranked 2nd, behind USC. TB will not be able to give the Dawgs a # 1 ranking. 4. Speaking of USC, I mean the coots, they will cry fowl because thay are not picked to win the NC. After all they have Spurrier. But so did the Deadskins.
Fun, fun, fun!!!!
By Gator McCluskey
May 5, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
Bama’s going to improve to 8-4 next season. Yee haw!
By Crafty
May 5, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
Gator McCluskey, Cool. Then they can be like you guys! 8-4. Woo Hoo.
By Richard
May 5, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
War Eagle,
Sorry, my mistake. I should have remembered ripping down the goalpost from when GT kicked Auburn’s a$$ in 2003. My fault.
By SecIsFootball
May 5, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
WarEagle….Its is funny that the only one on here talking about Coach Bryant is you! The reason Alabama is still associated with its past so much is because of rival fans such as yourself. You can call Saban a hack all you want but he has a NC and won 2 SEC titles in his first 5 years. Tubby has been in the league for over 10 years and has 1 title and no NC’s. And I could care less if it is a 1 or 2 loss NC. You dont hear any LSU fans or UF can complaining about their NC’s do you. Those 1 & 2 loss NC’s are better than going 13-0 and being passed over because of your schedule. In Saban’s 1st year at LSU he won 8 games. At BAMA he won 7 and we know what happened in the years to come. Not saying we will win a NC, but we will be competitive and your dream of winning 6 more against us is just that…a dream!!!
By SecIsFootball
May 5, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
Bravesfan79….The only reason Michael Adams is no longer supporting the BCS is because if his team supposedly getting screwed out of the BCS CG. UGA did not get screwed out of that game and UGA fans should come to accept that. You know as well as I do if they didnt lay an egg against USC and UT, they would have been in the game. They didnt win those games and I dont care that it was early in the season. Those games count too!
By WarEagle
May 5, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this
SecIsFootball, Schedule? Michigan played App State. Not exactly a good team. You guys play crappy teams every year. We beat 6 top ranked teams that year. A computer left us out. Again, here’s to six more years of beating Bammer in to the ground. At least Tubby has A LOT more class than Saban and ANY bama fan.
Richard, Who are you and what does 2003 have to do with anything? Go back to your pizza delivery job. Hack
By SOS
May 5, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this
I see SECCoachinDallas(GA) has fired up the dial up modem from the manager’s office in the trailer park of his suburban ATL backwater enclave to match his Paulding County High School wits against the college educated…
Methinks it’s because reading this blog is sort of like watching “Let’s Make a Deal,” a favorite of the Paulding County trailer park elite…
We all know that SECCoachinDallas(GA)’s goats will be behind DOOR #2 (1-10), but does South Carolina’s absence from this list mean that they will be behind DOOR #3 (11-20)????
That’s something for SECCoachinDallas(GA) to ponder all summer along with fantasies about greased pigs at the SC State Farmers Market and…
South Carolina 16, Georgia 12
By AltamahaDawg
May 5, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
SEC is Football, so you think that the current system is fine? UGA even being considered,(and plenty of folks outside the Bulldawg nation talked about it) when its clear to you that they shouldnt have been is EXACTLY the problem with the system. Nobody knows the criteria. Adams’ motivation has no bearing in the validity of the argument.
By Rabun Dawg
May 5, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
Tony, your article was fun to read, as this time of year with NBA,NHL, and snail paced baseball going on,we need a meaningless fix like this to keep us fired up until Sept.Looks like you did stir the pot, and hey, don’t you Aub. and Bama guys ever get tired of trashing each other? You guys need to have an attitude adjustment with regards to your rivals! We Dawgs are not in love with the Jackets either, but we don’t trample each other all year long, do we? Maybe some do at that! Keep it coming TB, I love it!
By zinoDawg
May 5, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
Keep it coming Tony!!! Three things you can’t get too much of: money, sex, and college football!
By WarEagle
May 5, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this
Rabun Dawg, Hate to break it to you but UGA/Tech is not much of a rivalry. I mean really, you guys have 2 NT. We have one and should have more. 2004. Anyway, Tech is not much of a football school to begin with. Yeah, they beat us in 05 but we still beat you guys and finished with 2 loses that year. Not so bad I guess. Anyway, good luck this year because being at the top has it’s downside. Like having every team come after you.
By Rabun Dawg
May 5, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
ZinoDawg,
Amen,Brother!!
By alabamadawg
May 5, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
If the tide gets past Clemson, look out…I don’t think they’ll lose but one or two games this year…
By m
May 5, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
**Tony, If you are outrageously picking Tech to finish out of the Top 40, then maybe you haven’t heard the good news. Chan Gailey is gone…FOREVER. Tech has replaced the worst coach in the history of the NCAA with one of the best. So if you mistakenly have left Tech out of the Top 40 due to the last 6 years under Gailey, you need to rethink your list. Because, MARK IT DOWN, Tech is going to surprise….Totally due to improved coaching. HALLLEEEEDAMALOOOYAH!
By Tider84
May 5, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this
WarEagle, Bear Bryant is gone and there will never be another coach like him, no not even Saban. Let me let you in on a little secret. BAMA FANS KNOW THIS! It is awbarn fans who are always saying that Bear is gone and we keep looking for another Bear. Saban is a great coach and an awesome recruiter. No, we are not going to win a NC this year or probably within the next 3 yrs, nevertheless it feels good to have a proven head coach. Thats what we’re excited about.Congrats on taking us to the wood shed during the darkest days in UA football history. Thats really not much to be proud of and it shows just how weak ya’ll are to get so excited about that. Since you haven’t done anything else besides 04, I understand why it means so much to you. P.S. Welcome to T-town AJ, excellent choice.
By War Eagle
May 5, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
War Eagle, can you handle War Eagle01 or something of that nature. I have been posting on the UGA blawgs for several years and we could differ on opinions, GOOD JOB ON SABAN..HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND…thanks
By SecIsFootball
May 5, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
AltamahaDawg….Do I think the current systems is fine? No I don’t. However, it is what we have now and it is not like the Alabama president is the only person who doesnt want a playoff. It is by majority and it was outvoted like 6-2 I think by the BCS Commissioners.
However, if you look back to last year, UGA DID NOT deserve to be that game. The lost to an average S. Carolina team (AT HOME) and got blasted by UT. I keep hearing the arguement that it happened early in the season and UGA got so much better which is correct. However, as I said, as much as UGA fans want to disagree, the 1st half of the season counts as well.
As for Adams, his arguing for a playoff, for the 1st time, came they year when UGA got “screwed”. I am sure that is just a coincidence.
By SecIsFootball
May 5, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this
WarEagle….You are the true definition of delusional but I do appreciate your ability to dream big. With the high quality talent Saban is bring in, and the high character people Tubby is bringing in, that Tuberville “class” will only get you so far. While Saban, Richt, Meyer, Miles, etc are out busting the tails recruiting, Tubby will be out job/duck hunting again. Your little win streak, which is by far the greatest accomplishment in AU football history, will soon come to an end. Everyone sees it and the disappointment you will suffer when it doesn will be great!
By heeldawg
May 5, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
To all of you crazy, mixed-up Gamecock fans:
That make you feel better?
Okay, now that we’ve gotten that little chip of insecurity off of your shoulder, let’s come back into this solar system a minute.
The Gamecocks collapsed last season. They choked, gagged, and generally disintegrated as the season wore on. Going from 6-1 to 6-6 is not exactly the stuff of champions.
Georgia, on the other hand, was very young and inexperienced when they played the ‘Cocks last season. But the team got better as the year went on, and the team ended up 11-2, with solid wins over bowl teams Ga Tech, Florida, Auburn and Hawaii—teams who all would have beaten South Carolina at the end of the season (yes, even the Rainbow Warriors).
Championship teams improve as the season goes on. Georgia did; the Gamecocks didn’t.
Now, you think you’re going to beat Georgia (for only the 12th time in school history, I might add) with no offensive line, no QB (unless Garcia gets through rehab) and no running game?
Let me clue you in: as good as you think the Gamecock defense will be, the Georgia defense will be better. Far better, in fact—particularly against the run. And, unlike South Carolina, the Dawgs have depth at every position. Your offense will be fortunate to even score against Georgia next season. And you can’t win the game if you post yet another goose egg on the Columbia scoreboard, a la 2006.
When you throw in the offensive firepower that Georgia will have in its arsenal (Stafford, Moreno, King, and a slew of WRs), as well as the revenge factor for last year’s loss, the Gamecocks will be looking at a blowout so profound that Spurrier will swear off football forever. This game could rival Georgia Tech-Cumberland as the biggest blowout of all time. Several of the South Carolina players will be rendered sterile, Williams-Brice Stadium will collapse into a pile of rubble only marginally uglier than it already is, the Gamecock fan train will derail, Coach Morrison will come back from the dead and admit that Columbia really is the graveyard of coaches (at least for him, anyway), and the South Carolina mascot will finally admit that he’s no fighting c**. He’s just a run-of-the mill chicken—something we’ve suspected all along, anyway.
And he’s ovulating.
Give up the delusions, Gamecock fans. You should aspire to mere adequacy. At least that’s a goal you can realistically attain.
By George
May 5, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this
Secisfootball that is the most ludarcious commenet I have ever heard in my ENTIRE life. A national championship with 2 losses is better than going 13-0 and geting passed over because of Auburn’s schedule. Are you mentally retarted???? Honestly LSU played Tulane, Middle Tennesse, and Louisiana last year. YEA 3 brutes let me tell you. You are a MORON. When was the last time UGA went undefeated??????? 1980. When was the last time LSU went Undefeated???????? 1958. When was the last time UF went Undefeated??????????? You are a complete F’ing moron and oh by the way Auburn has gone undefeated not once but twice in the last 15 years.
By WarEagle
May 5, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this
No chance at me changing my handle. Get over it.
Tider84, I find it funny that you call us Aubarn yet you are deeper in to redneck country than we are. Remember, we’re closer to Atlanta and you guys are closer to Mississippi. I don’t believe bammer fans are over Bear. All I hear is how Saban is the next Bear. Yeah, we had 04 but we have also had other undefeated seasons other than 93. Darkest days? Are you kidding? You guys have not accomplished anything since 92. Good year for bammer by the way.
SecIsFootball, Tubberville is the third winningest coach of the past 10 years behind only Mac Brown and Pete Carrol. Suck on that home slice. Delusional? Not quite my friend. I look at stats for proof. I’m still waiting on bammer to ever produce a Heisman winner.
By SecIsFootball
May 5, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this
George…And does your Mommy know you are on the computer this late? How old are you that you have to get so bitter about a post you resort to name calling. GROW UP MY FRIEND.
The reason why the 2 loss NC is better than an prizeless undefeated season is because it is a NC!!! I am sure you are not old enough to remember AU’s last NC because it more than 50 years ago. Hope you dont have any thoughts about seeing one in your lifetime either!! But hey, you will always have the ability to log into a moniker on the AJC.com and call other grown ups names. That is if you are a grown up!
By TheWarEagle
May 5, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this
George, Brother you are correct. We also beat SIX top ranked teams that year. Auburn should just claim the title and cry like USC did in 03 when LSU was forced to share it with them. Auburn has gone undefeated 7 times in school history. Should we not have 7 NTs? I mean, Bama has claimed several championships before the AP was around to give them out. Besides, Auburn has produced far better professional athletes than Bammer. Bo Jackson, Charles Barkley, Frank Thomas, Tim Hudson…. Only school in college football history to have 4 players drafted in the first round. Who has bammer produced. Joe “Drunk” Nameth and Bart Starr. Good quarterbacks. Shawn Alexander? Should we talk about him?
By SecIsFootball
May 5, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
wareagle….For a team that has not accomplished anything since 1992, that doesnt say much for your beloved cow college when in the last 10 years, we have the same number of SEC titles and since 1992, we have an NC, 2 SEC titles and 5 appearances in the SECCG. If BAMA has accomplished nothing since 1992, it has been since 1957 that AU did. But hey, 2 undefeated seasons and nothing at all to show for it. I think I will take the NC we actually won!!
AS far as Tubby goes….he may have a nice winning percentage but he still has the same # of SEC titles as Mike Dubose.
As far as Heisman trophies go, you can have yours…I will just be happy with the fact we have actually won several NC’s since 1957!
By TheWarEagle
May 5, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
SecIsFootball, Losing 2 games is better than going undefeated? You’re either insane or just ignorant. Lee Corso even said that LSU was not a good team. Maybe you guys will win at least 6 games this year and head back to the Shreveport bowl. Bama sucks!
By SecIsFootball
May 5, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
TheWarEagle…..How about these names for you. Joe Nameth, Bart Starr, Cornelius Bennett, Derrick Thomas, John Hannah (considered the best lineman of all time), Don Hutson, Lee Roy Jordan, Shaun Alexander, Ozzie Newsome, Jeramiah Castille, Eric Curry, John Copeland, Harry Gilmer, Sylvester Croom, Dwight Stevenson, Chris Samual, Demeco Ryans, & Kenny Stabler. Let me also mention Robery Horry (6 NBA Titles), Mo Williams, David Beniot, Leon Douglas, Reggie King and Derrick McKey. In baseball, Dave Magadan, Andy Phillips, Dustin Mohr and Joe Sewell (MLB Hall of Fame). I will not be ignorant enough to degrade some of the great athletes AU has had, but I think some of the names I threw out completely ruins your arguement about putting our great athelets.
By SecIsFootball
May 5, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this
Ohhh…BAMA sucks! That was deep. How long does it take to sink in.
LSU - 2 losses and a NC (2 in the last 4 years)! AU - 1 SEC title in 10 years and no NC’s in 50+!
50 YEARS????? I mean even Ole Miss has won a NC in that time!! Hell…with AU’s last SEC title, I think they finally passed Georgia Tech for # of titles and how long has Tech been out of the league.
We may suck right now but at least we dont have to tell people it has been over 50 years since we won a NC.
By AltamahaDawg
May 5, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this
SEC, restating your original comment is not an answer. But I really dont care now. You dont have a point about the BCS, just about UGA.
By BB
May 5, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this
heeldawg- that was a CLASSIC comeback. Nicely done
By SecIsFootball
May 6, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this
AltamahaDawg….I dont have a point about the NCAA because there is nothing I can do about it. It is what it is and we have to live with it until someone can get it changed. With the amount of money in the bowl games now, good luck with getting university president and AD’s to vote for a playoff. As for my arguement about UGA, it may be too painful for you to read but, the truth hurts sometimes I guess!
By Haywood Jablowme
May 6, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this
Who cares? This whole conference blows.
By P Dawg
May 6, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
I can’t wait until the season starts and particularly when we play sc. it’s going to be so demoralizing for c** fans when UGA spanks em’. They are like that little gnat that every once in a while will bite a little but the big dog just thumps him and puts him in his place! I also can’t wait to hear what SOS will have to say after their beatdown. I really believe that he’s on his way out. He’s too competitive to stay on a sinking ship. Look for his son to take over in 09’ c** lovers.
By P Dawg
May 6, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
Alabama will improve this year. Say what you will about Saban, but he is a proven winner in college football. The recruiting is there and the coaching is as well. As far as FSU, who knows? That school has had top 5 recruiting classes for so long they should be there every year. No clue what the problem is in Tallahassee. I guess we’ll see what Jimbo Fisher is all about.
By CFB Fan
May 6, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
“Mr. CFB” - Hubris…
By Dunwoody Don
May 6, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
The TCU Horned Frogs will finish the 2008 season in the Top 20.
By Paula
May 6, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
North Carolina?
By AltamahaDawg
May 6, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
palleezzz
By April
May 6, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Juan Calvillo, as a fellow MSU fan (and alum) I share your optimism for this season, although it’s definitely cautious optimism : )
By bubble burst
May 6, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
North Carolina?? They have a football team? They return 18 starters from a team that sucked. So they return 18 crappy or mediocre starters. I wouldn’t rank them in the top 30 if Bear Bryant was their head coach.
By Dirty Dawg
May 6, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
Quick fixes:
Why cant all other SEC fans stick to their own hometown or state newspaper blogs?
If people dont like the articles on here…dont read them!!!
The triple option wont save tech!!
Go Dawgs!!
By Adam
May 6, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
Where is Colorado? Tough schedule this year, but they are going to surprise a lot of people. Will win 3 of 4 during stretch of WVU, FSU, Texas, Kansas.
By Jay
May 7, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Rutgers was 8-5 with Ray Rice. So if they replace him the only way they get better is to play an even weaker schedule.
By Rolltidega
May 7, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
I am a Bama fan and I am realistic in believing that we will have s decent year, but we are not at NC caliber yet. Congrats Auburn, enjoy it while you can because Saban will get us back to where we will dominate you. Just deal with that. Saban may be a jerk at time, but I definitely enjoy a proven football coach versus what we have had since Gene Stallings. Go Saban and Roll Tide Roll!
By Ga Sports Guy
May 7, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this
Who exactly were these 6 “top teams” in 2004 The War Eagle?
I have the schedule in front of me and i see a total of four ranked teams UGA, UT, LSU, and VT.And really since the complaining is about being left out of the BCS take out VT because they were played in the bowl game. With UGA the only one finishing in the top 10(#8).
I guess I shouldn’t leave out the pummelling of the Citidel, La. Tech, ULM, and the remarkable 2ond half come from behind victory over the 6-6 powerhouse Alabama with 3rd string QB Spencer Pennington at the helm.
By TexanTiger
May 7, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this
LSU #4, UT #8, UGA #5, UT twice, you know that thing called the SEC Title Game… UT #15, VT #10
That’s 5 top “15” teams you dou$hebag.
It’s a lot harder to dispute recent “factual” historical occurances unlike that “12” abomination. It’s called 1941 you pr!cks…That means your whole way of thinking is sceptical to the outside public.
This is why you are a joke!
By me
May 7, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Are you ready to remove F$U from your top 30, now that they have lost their best D-linemen.
By TexasTiger
May 7, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
Hate to disappoint you bammer mouth breathers, but the only period of history where uat has dominated AU was durng the old drunk’s years. AU led the series before he arrived and has dominated it since he departed. The bahr is the only reason that you lead the series. Take your hollow recruiting MNC and your runner-up Spring Game attendance title and shove them…prepare for loss #7 in a row to AU. The fact is that Tubby and the AU program do more with the folks that come there than sabear et al. To quote White Goodman from Dodgeball…”suck failure, freaks!” LOL
The AU-UGA game may be huge this season for more than usual reasons.
By Sebastian
May 8, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
The Hurricanes will spend this year brewing up a new storm. Next year heed the warning.
By PK19
May 8, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this
Why are auburn fans such @ssholes? All i have seen on this blog is AU fans trash talking other schools, especially Alabama. I know that they are rivals(and probably the biggest rivalry in sports in my opinion)but why do you relentlessly attack Bama? And AU fans are the ones that start it. Also, I agree with the bammers about the ugly stereotype they have been given. I have never heard a Bama fan say that the Bear is still alive. I think that is all AU and UT fans making that crap up. Auburn fans really need to stop being so envious of Alabama’s accomplishments. It’s getting sad. By the way I am a Texas fan, and completely nuetral.
By PK19
May 8, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this
Why are auburn fans such @ssholes? All i have seen on this blog is AU fans trash talking other schools, especially Alabama. I know that they are rivals(and probably the biggest rivalry in sports in my opinion)but why do you relentlessly attack Bama? And AU fans are the ones that start it. Also, I agree with the bammers about the ugly stereotype they have been given. I have never heard a Bama fan say that the Bear is still alive. I think that is all AU and UT fans making that crap up. Auburn fans really need to stop being so envious of Alabama’s accomplishments. It’s getting sad. By the way I am a Texas fan, and completely nuetral.
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June 24, 2008 5:44 AM | Link to this
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June 24, 2008 5:45 AM | Link to this
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